Post by bonhommearmonica on Aug 29, 2015 1:30:57 GMT -6
Twenty miles south of Dallas
13 days later
Captain Doe had been invited to observe the training by Lt.Colonel Forrest. The Home Guard had built the Facility quickly, as Forrest had asked.
Forrest was yelling at one of his Major's, shoving him face first into the mud of the Trinity. Getting his H and D uniform muddy, "I said get into the damn mud Major." Forrest climbed out of the training area, pulling his side arm. After he pulled the trigger, "All officers will lead from the front. If I find you hiding.."
As Forrest's Major quickly crawled under the barb wire, Agent 13 went wide eyed inside. 'This is not good,' he thought as memories of his own training of being yelled at and shot at came back to mind. He watched as Forrest turned around and kicked the enlisted into the mud.
"However a good leader makes sure his people are better them him, "Forrest yelled as he continued. Pointing his side arm down the line of enlisted, "Five... Four ... Three..."
An idea passed through the agents mind, "Into the goddamn mud now..."
Even Forrest paused as he turned and looked at Doe.. The Captain dived into the mud with his uniform on. The home gaurd unit pause as they looked at each other. Seeing their commanding officer jumping in the dive in following him.
Forrest smiled and looked towards his own men, "See that is how you do it... Now get in the damn mud.." He leveled his side arm at them, "Two.."
The remaining men jumped in with Forrest watching. He pointed out how was it the injured,old, and infirm were beating his men..
Agent 13's men had to help pull him part of the way through the wire. His bad leg gave out but he kept coming forward. As he approached the end of that part of the training course, He looked up. Lt. Colonel Forrest had crawled into the mud. He was still yelling at his men.
As he pulled the HG Captain out of the mud, "See you all got beat by an injured Confederate soldier. Team work and will power over came you young idiots." Forrest handed a riding crop to the HG captain. Forrest walked over to his climbing out after Doe. "Go with Doe...Yall have let the confederacy down, Doe do what you want with them. They are worthless pond scum... might as well be Negroes."
With that he turned and walked away from that small group...
Captain Doe stood in his dirty uniform looking over the group. Shaking his head he realized what he had got into. "Alright if you boys want to be Negroes I will treat you like the slaves you are."
Members of the HG unit stood by the Captain. One of the trainees raised his voice, "You wont talk to me like that I aint no Negro.. "He moved to advance on the Captain.
He fell face first into the mud, as those standing near him turned. Smartly the 14 year old Luke had snuck up behind the man. He struck him on the head and fell back, leveling his rifle on the men.
"You little," one of the men yelled. He froze how ever as an old man stood beside the young HG member.
"The home guard works together as a team. You young pups will fall right back in line or regardless of what the two fine officers here think I will put a bullet in each of you." The old Texas vet smiled as he spoke.
The shocked men stood there as Captain Doe limped right up to them. 'Lets see if I can pull this off,' "Alright you disappointments. Let me explain something to you. This is the Dallas Texas Home Guard. Most of the older men here have seen more combat then there nightmares will allow them to remember. I myself was wounded at Belmont." He pointed to his bad leg, "If you cant keep up with us you don not deserve to wear the uniform."
Forrest watched with a smile on his face, as Captain Doe yelled professionally at the recruits. By the end of the day, the whole group had transferred to the Home Guard for being disappointments.
Pretending disgust, Captain Doe ordered them hygiene'd at the end of the day. "Since you want to act like negro prisoners let me give you a taste of of it." He marched them to his ranch. He made them use slave showers and dry off..
"Were are we gonna sleep Captain," one of the men asked. Lt. Colonel Forrest was about to speak when Doe got there first.
"You telling me Sargent you did not pre-plan. You made no accommodations ahead of time for you and your men."
"Captain our officers are supposed to handle that," the Captain looked at the Sargent after he answered.
"Lt.Colonel Forrest was assigned to train you, not baby you. Are you telling me Sargent you committed a horse whipping offense by not preparing?"
Freezing in place, "No sir. " Looking around he turned towards the slave area.
"Do not even think about it Sargent," Captain Doe coldly interuprted his thoughts. "My slaves worked today. They actually contributed to the War effort. What did you do? So far all you have done is let down your Lt. Colonel."
Forrest rode over, "I will have any man hung who I find inside the Slave Quarters without escort." Riding right up to the Sargent, "We are guest on the Captain's ranch." He pointed to the guards at the entrance of the Quarters, "The Home Guard units here will be given orders to shoot any of you who decide I do not mean what I say."
___________________________________________
_____________________________________
The men he was training only had one incident of trying to get to the slave quarters... Forrest had the man horse whipped by one of my slaves..."did not deserve to be punished by a white man... orders were orders and the next man I will just damn well shoot dead. Regardless of General Lee's opinion!!!"
Over the next few weeks the men developed a routine of intense Training. Lt. Colonel Forrest truly has made himself a study of the Colonel. His training methods would have meshed with any member of the 101st..
Forrest winged another one of the men in training. Only this time the man keep moving through the barb wire and did not jump. When he got the other side his Sargent yelled medic. They check they wound and cover it, then back to the next evolution.
"See you graduate to ladies today. Tomorrow I might have house servants... And then maybe just maybe I will get someone I can train to fight.." Lt. Colonel Forrest smiled.
'Damn he has the Colonels training book down pat. He has internalized the means and methods.' Agent 13 shook his head, 'Not to mention him trying to get me to help him acquire Mexican horses.'
"Everything ok Captain Doe," Lt. Colonel Forrest asked?
Agent 13 walked over and kicked on of the slower men in the mud, "See my leg PFC... I was faster then you and look at my leg...MOVE IT!!!"
Forrest nodded in approval, "I want to take a moment to thank you and the Dallas Home Guard. None of this would have been possible without your support. I am putting you in for a promotion Captain Doe."
Agent 13 started to protest...
Forrest held up his hand," Hear me out. I know your still touchy about your maiming at the Yankees hand. You wont be going to the front lines, but I could use you and your men who will hopefully volunteer to help train for me... You seem to grasp this better then I do in some areas..."
Agent 13 rolled with the realization this could go bad... "Lt. Colonel, when I could walk again after some butchery on my leg. Camp Life was just like this. The good Colonel forced his confederate counterparts to maintain perfect Discipline, otherwise they would be punished for the failures of the those beneath them. I saw what you where doing and it was the same thing."
Forrest laughed, and he laughed real hard slapping agent 13 on the back.." My good man I can see you understand from first hand experience..."
'Yeah I went through it alright,' Captain Doe laughed with the Lt. Colonel.
As he finished," I want you to know it has taken everything I had to not poach. PFC Luke," he pointed to the kid in the mud. "Asked if he could join and transfer to us."
Captain Doe got a little mad but understood.. "Luke.."
"Do not get mad Captain I asked why he did not just join the Confederate Army, he might make a pretty good officer.He told me how he made a deal with you to buy his farm from another bank and prevented it being foreclosed. I put on my best angry face and chewed him. I told him that a man kept his word and did not break it. I told I would forget this little incident and mark it off to youth. If I ever found out he broke his word and joined, I would have him transferred to me and then horse whipped."
"Thank you for telling me. The truth of the matter," Watching his word very carefully. "We need the young blood to balance the old men... It was just thrown in my face with all of this. We can do our jobs but.."
"Like the Colonel, if your injured their will be something that you can not do physically do." Agent 13 gave Forrest a look as he spoke. Forrest Continued, "I have read every scrap of paper on the Colonel. The south faces a lot of problems that have been multiplied as result of the Colonel. We do not have the Technological edge, we do not have the resource edge, and we are losing the Leadership edge..."
Agent 13 took a moment, "How has everyone been treating you since, well..."
"Since I allowed the men under my command to violate their honor and mine.." Forrest paused and grimaced as a memory hit him, "Oddly enough my study of the Colonel I found comfort in something his grand father told him..." Pausing for effect , " 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.' The Colonels Biography stated it was something King Martin of the Luthers said when his people were fighting a foreign adversary who had all the power in arms and weapons. It gave me the strength to realize that the only way to overcome this was to be completely honest with myself. Then to fix what was wrong.. By god I have... I cant wait to face the Colonel and those he trained on the field of battle again... " Forrest got a longing look in his eye, a mix of revenge and pleasure in his mind.
__________________________________________________ ___
__________________________________________________ ____
Richmond, Virginia
CSA Army HQ
General Lee showed a moment of anger as he slammed hand onto the table which shocked Jefferson Davis. "The Confederate Army IS doing everything it can."
Sensing Lee's exasperation with the Confederate President, General Stuart added on. "Not to mention why was your CSS unable to deliver Major Custer? His group of merry makers burned down and destroyed the tracks at the Memphis station. Now our operations to do anything are grinding to a halt."
With much anger, "Gentlemen according to the CSS our problem is the Home Guard. Their information has it that the HG units are working with the Union. Besides, their is no proof that it was Major Custer. The CSS reproted he was tied up dealing with the Dakatos."
General Jackson angerily tossed a paper in front of the President of the Confederacy." Do not ever question my honor again. I want the name of the CSS agent calling me a liar."
Davis picked up the Union paper, he read the front page..
Major Custer's sets fire to Mephis, Alabama
The President of the Confederate States face turned red as he read on. "Major Custer told me thank you personally for helping, by interfering in confederate operations.
Jefferson Davis rattled off the quote. The anger on Jeffersons face showed..
General Lee took a moment to calm the situation, "You have one weapon you can use against him. However.."
"What weapon.." Jefferson Davis smiled.. "The Lt. Colonel..."
Longstreet opened up, "However your office denied his request to buy Mexican horses for his men. With extra Calvary he might could..."
"Wire Forrest... He will get those damn horses... Then I want him to teach those Union bastards two can play this game..." Jefferson Davis walked out of the room with a vengeance..
The Confederate Generals had to hide there smiles...
__________________
13 days later
Captain Doe had been invited to observe the training by Lt.Colonel Forrest. The Home Guard had built the Facility quickly, as Forrest had asked.
Forrest was yelling at one of his Major's, shoving him face first into the mud of the Trinity. Getting his H and D uniform muddy, "I said get into the damn mud Major." Forrest climbed out of the training area, pulling his side arm. After he pulled the trigger, "All officers will lead from the front. If I find you hiding.."
As Forrest's Major quickly crawled under the barb wire, Agent 13 went wide eyed inside. 'This is not good,' he thought as memories of his own training of being yelled at and shot at came back to mind. He watched as Forrest turned around and kicked the enlisted into the mud.
"However a good leader makes sure his people are better them him, "Forrest yelled as he continued. Pointing his side arm down the line of enlisted, "Five... Four ... Three..."
An idea passed through the agents mind, "Into the goddamn mud now..."
Even Forrest paused as he turned and looked at Doe.. The Captain dived into the mud with his uniform on. The home gaurd unit pause as they looked at each other. Seeing their commanding officer jumping in the dive in following him.
Forrest smiled and looked towards his own men, "See that is how you do it... Now get in the damn mud.." He leveled his side arm at them, "Two.."
The remaining men jumped in with Forrest watching. He pointed out how was it the injured,old, and infirm were beating his men..
Agent 13's men had to help pull him part of the way through the wire. His bad leg gave out but he kept coming forward. As he approached the end of that part of the training course, He looked up. Lt. Colonel Forrest had crawled into the mud. He was still yelling at his men.
As he pulled the HG Captain out of the mud, "See you all got beat by an injured Confederate soldier. Team work and will power over came you young idiots." Forrest handed a riding crop to the HG captain. Forrest walked over to his climbing out after Doe. "Go with Doe...Yall have let the confederacy down, Doe do what you want with them. They are worthless pond scum... might as well be Negroes."
With that he turned and walked away from that small group...
Captain Doe stood in his dirty uniform looking over the group. Shaking his head he realized what he had got into. "Alright if you boys want to be Negroes I will treat you like the slaves you are."
Members of the HG unit stood by the Captain. One of the trainees raised his voice, "You wont talk to me like that I aint no Negro.. "He moved to advance on the Captain.
He fell face first into the mud, as those standing near him turned. Smartly the 14 year old Luke had snuck up behind the man. He struck him on the head and fell back, leveling his rifle on the men.
"You little," one of the men yelled. He froze how ever as an old man stood beside the young HG member.
"The home guard works together as a team. You young pups will fall right back in line or regardless of what the two fine officers here think I will put a bullet in each of you." The old Texas vet smiled as he spoke.
The shocked men stood there as Captain Doe limped right up to them. 'Lets see if I can pull this off,' "Alright you disappointments. Let me explain something to you. This is the Dallas Texas Home Guard. Most of the older men here have seen more combat then there nightmares will allow them to remember. I myself was wounded at Belmont." He pointed to his bad leg, "If you cant keep up with us you don not deserve to wear the uniform."
Forrest watched with a smile on his face, as Captain Doe yelled professionally at the recruits. By the end of the day, the whole group had transferred to the Home Guard for being disappointments.
Pretending disgust, Captain Doe ordered them hygiene'd at the end of the day. "Since you want to act like negro prisoners let me give you a taste of of it." He marched them to his ranch. He made them use slave showers and dry off..
"Were are we gonna sleep Captain," one of the men asked. Lt. Colonel Forrest was about to speak when Doe got there first.
"You telling me Sargent you did not pre-plan. You made no accommodations ahead of time for you and your men."
"Captain our officers are supposed to handle that," the Captain looked at the Sargent after he answered.
"Lt.Colonel Forrest was assigned to train you, not baby you. Are you telling me Sargent you committed a horse whipping offense by not preparing?"
Freezing in place, "No sir. " Looking around he turned towards the slave area.
"Do not even think about it Sargent," Captain Doe coldly interuprted his thoughts. "My slaves worked today. They actually contributed to the War effort. What did you do? So far all you have done is let down your Lt. Colonel."
Forrest rode over, "I will have any man hung who I find inside the Slave Quarters without escort." Riding right up to the Sargent, "We are guest on the Captain's ranch." He pointed to the guards at the entrance of the Quarters, "The Home Guard units here will be given orders to shoot any of you who decide I do not mean what I say."
___________________________________________
_____________________________________
The men he was training only had one incident of trying to get to the slave quarters... Forrest had the man horse whipped by one of my slaves..."did not deserve to be punished by a white man... orders were orders and the next man I will just damn well shoot dead. Regardless of General Lee's opinion!!!"
Over the next few weeks the men developed a routine of intense Training. Lt. Colonel Forrest truly has made himself a study of the Colonel. His training methods would have meshed with any member of the 101st..
Forrest winged another one of the men in training. Only this time the man keep moving through the barb wire and did not jump. When he got the other side his Sargent yelled medic. They check they wound and cover it, then back to the next evolution.
"See you graduate to ladies today. Tomorrow I might have house servants... And then maybe just maybe I will get someone I can train to fight.." Lt. Colonel Forrest smiled.
'Damn he has the Colonels training book down pat. He has internalized the means and methods.' Agent 13 shook his head, 'Not to mention him trying to get me to help him acquire Mexican horses.'
"Everything ok Captain Doe," Lt. Colonel Forrest asked?
Agent 13 walked over and kicked on of the slower men in the mud, "See my leg PFC... I was faster then you and look at my leg...MOVE IT!!!"
Forrest nodded in approval, "I want to take a moment to thank you and the Dallas Home Guard. None of this would have been possible without your support. I am putting you in for a promotion Captain Doe."
Agent 13 started to protest...
Forrest held up his hand," Hear me out. I know your still touchy about your maiming at the Yankees hand. You wont be going to the front lines, but I could use you and your men who will hopefully volunteer to help train for me... You seem to grasp this better then I do in some areas..."
Agent 13 rolled with the realization this could go bad... "Lt. Colonel, when I could walk again after some butchery on my leg. Camp Life was just like this. The good Colonel forced his confederate counterparts to maintain perfect Discipline, otherwise they would be punished for the failures of the those beneath them. I saw what you where doing and it was the same thing."
Forrest laughed, and he laughed real hard slapping agent 13 on the back.." My good man I can see you understand from first hand experience..."
'Yeah I went through it alright,' Captain Doe laughed with the Lt. Colonel.
As he finished," I want you to know it has taken everything I had to not poach. PFC Luke," he pointed to the kid in the mud. "Asked if he could join and transfer to us."
Captain Doe got a little mad but understood.. "Luke.."
"Do not get mad Captain I asked why he did not just join the Confederate Army, he might make a pretty good officer.He told me how he made a deal with you to buy his farm from another bank and prevented it being foreclosed. I put on my best angry face and chewed him. I told him that a man kept his word and did not break it. I told I would forget this little incident and mark it off to youth. If I ever found out he broke his word and joined, I would have him transferred to me and then horse whipped."
"Thank you for telling me. The truth of the matter," Watching his word very carefully. "We need the young blood to balance the old men... It was just thrown in my face with all of this. We can do our jobs but.."
"Like the Colonel, if your injured their will be something that you can not do physically do." Agent 13 gave Forrest a look as he spoke. Forrest Continued, "I have read every scrap of paper on the Colonel. The south faces a lot of problems that have been multiplied as result of the Colonel. We do not have the Technological edge, we do not have the resource edge, and we are losing the Leadership edge..."
Agent 13 took a moment, "How has everyone been treating you since, well..."
"Since I allowed the men under my command to violate their honor and mine.." Forrest paused and grimaced as a memory hit him, "Oddly enough my study of the Colonel I found comfort in something his grand father told him..." Pausing for effect , " 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.' The Colonels Biography stated it was something King Martin of the Luthers said when his people were fighting a foreign adversary who had all the power in arms and weapons. It gave me the strength to realize that the only way to overcome this was to be completely honest with myself. Then to fix what was wrong.. By god I have... I cant wait to face the Colonel and those he trained on the field of battle again... " Forrest got a longing look in his eye, a mix of revenge and pleasure in his mind.
__________________________________________________ ___
__________________________________________________ ____
Richmond, Virginia
CSA Army HQ
General Lee showed a moment of anger as he slammed hand onto the table which shocked Jefferson Davis. "The Confederate Army IS doing everything it can."
Sensing Lee's exasperation with the Confederate President, General Stuart added on. "Not to mention why was your CSS unable to deliver Major Custer? His group of merry makers burned down and destroyed the tracks at the Memphis station. Now our operations to do anything are grinding to a halt."
With much anger, "Gentlemen according to the CSS our problem is the Home Guard. Their information has it that the HG units are working with the Union. Besides, their is no proof that it was Major Custer. The CSS reproted he was tied up dealing with the Dakatos."
General Jackson angerily tossed a paper in front of the President of the Confederacy." Do not ever question my honor again. I want the name of the CSS agent calling me a liar."
Davis picked up the Union paper, he read the front page..
Major Custer's sets fire to Mephis, Alabama
Quote:
.. instructed my men to not engage the Home Guard units. They are composed of Confederate veterans and might put up a fight. With went around the major cities.
.. instructed my men to not engage the Home Guard units. They are composed of Confederate veterans and might put up a fight. With went around the major cities.
The President of the Confederate States face turned red as he read on. "Major Custer told me thank you personally for helping, by interfering in confederate operations.
Quote:
The Colonel was correct our best weapon against the confederates is the President of the Confederacy, when the Union reaches Richmond I will shake his hand and thank him for his efforts for the Union..
The Colonel was correct our best weapon against the confederates is the President of the Confederacy, when the Union reaches Richmond I will shake his hand and thank him for his efforts for the Union..
Jefferson Davis rattled off the quote. The anger on Jeffersons face showed..
General Lee took a moment to calm the situation, "You have one weapon you can use against him. However.."
"What weapon.." Jefferson Davis smiled.. "The Lt. Colonel..."
Longstreet opened up, "However your office denied his request to buy Mexican horses for his men. With extra Calvary he might could..."
"Wire Forrest... He will get those damn horses... Then I want him to teach those Union bastards two can play this game..." Jefferson Davis walked out of the room with a vengeance..
The Confederate Generals had to hide there smiles...
__________________